Philotheus (orFilofei;Russian:Филофей;c. 1465 – 1542) was ahegumen of theYelizarov Monastery, nearPskov, in the 16th century. He is credited with authorship of theLegend of the White Cowl and theMoscow - Third Rome prophecy, details of which are very scarce. He is popularly known as the presumed author of the concept of Moscow as the Third Rome; Philotheus set out this thesis in his letters[1] to the priestMikhail Grigorievich Misyur-Munekhin [ru] and toGrand Duke Vasily III.
In reality, these letters are mainly devoted to other issues, mostly talking about Church issues, and only refer to Moscow orMuscovy rather obliquely. Their main message in this regard is rather to remind thetsar about his ecclesiastical position of Protector of Faith, as the two previous capitals ofOrthodoxy,Rome andConstantinople, both fell, first to theLatin heretics, and second to theMuslim heathens, withMoscow remaining its sole bastion. Philotheus prophecy could then best construed that the Muscovy (orRussia in general) will stand as far as it remains true to the Orthodox faith.
His alleged authorship of the essaysOn the Grievances of the Church toIvan the Terrible, was refuted by scholars, as it contained elements of discrepancy with his first epistle. The person who wrote this essay, using the name of Philotheus, tied the theme of "Third Rome" to the protection ofproperty rights of the church.[2]
In August 2009, it was reported that archaeologists had discovered a grave in Pskov, allegedly belonging to Philotheus.[3]
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